Want to start the French polish method but have some questions...
 

these are probably specific to Glenn, but others w/this type of machine please chime in. I have a White Rotary that I plan to do this method on as a practice machine. It is in pretty bad cosmetic condition, so I don't feel like I have to worry about the decals (they are already all silvered on the bed). Anyway, in the tutorial Glenn used a Franklin that looks just like my White and I am wondering if the spool thing for bobbin winding can come off? Also, how you do clean the tension assembly if it is not to be taken off? My machine has a layer of crud on all the silver parts and, of the ones I have been able to get off, soap, water and steel wool type scrubber have them looking great. Also, a lot of the black japanning one the bed is chipped off all around the edges and unto to bed (sorry i don't have pics) so I wondered about just painting the bed part. But if I did how do I :)? And one last thing...seems like Glenn mentioned about cleaning the bentwood cases in the French Polish thread, where do I find that info? The one this machine came is has sharpie marker on it, and the one end has come detached.

Thanks,
Jp

Wow you do have a basket case. I am wondering if the spool thing for bobbin winding can come off? mine has a screw on the side. Also, how you do clean the tension assembly if it is not to be taken off? I worked around mine for now. I wondered about just painting the bed part - use the testers touch up paint on nicks - black gloss The sharpie might come off with denatured alcohol but it will also take off the finish. To French polish you just do the same as you would on the machine. It is all French polish. French polish is the softening of the old shellac and the putting on of a little more shellac. If you strip the finish off the case you will need to put on new finish. I'm not Glenn but I think that is what he has taught me.

Not the bobbin wider, but the spool holder on the top of the machine. I don't see any screw of anything holding it on. I wonder if the pin itself is what holds it on.

Thanks for the tip on Testers (that's the stuff for model cars right?), I'll look for some next time I'm out. These are not nicks but large bare spots would that still do the trick?

Also, your saying do the French Polish on the case, just like I will on the machine, right?!

It's OK that you are not Glenn :), I only mentioned him because his machine looked like mine, oh and he did the tut!

This machine is cosmetically a mess, especially the bed, the head is decent, and it has all it's parts (case and bobbin, manual and even a ruffler) so I would like to use it when I am done

One more thing...this has probably been discussed also, but what can I do for the hand wheel where the silver is missing, can I put anything on it to make it all silver again?

Thank you for the help.
Jp

http://www.quiltingboard.com/tutoria...s-t109859.html This is the link you are looking for. Yes the testors is for models. Clean the bent wood top and base using this tutorial. Then make required repairs before staining and french polishing. The hand wheel plating is coming off and rusty. I would soak the thing in evaporust then use fine steel wool and metal polish to shine it up. Pictures would help.
Skip

Thanks for the link Glenn. I am going to try and get some pics, just gotta get camera and computer talking! I am scared to take the hand wheel off this machine after reading how to do it on TO. Is it as hard and it seems? My Free No 5 has a yucky hand wheel also.

i use a buffing wheel and jewelers rouge on the handwheel. U can also run it and hold a soft rag w matal polish against it.

oh yeah, remove as much rust and grime as possible first is probably best. Sometimes OOOO steel wool or vinegar soak might help if you don't have evapo rust.

Try using a Mr. Clean Magic Eraser (dampen corner and then scrub). They're pretty good at taking marks off without damaging finish.

No it is not hard to do.

Here are two pics of the machine in question. Not the best quality but maybe you can get and idea of the things I have been talking about.
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